Muraleetharan Daenuka, Fadich Ana, Stephenson Colin, Garney Whitney
1 Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
2 Men's Health Network, Washington, DC, USA.
Am J Mens Health. 2018 Jul;12(4):952-960. doi: 10.1177/1557988317753242. Epub 2018 Feb 1.
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a serious condition that affects approximately four million people in the United States, and is underdiagnosed in men. The objective of this study was to understand this phenomenon by examining multiple impacts of fibromyalgia on men in regard to interactions in society and the U.S. health system. A qualitative survey was administered to 1,163 respondents both online and in-person in Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. Thematic analyses of the survey responses suggest that men with FM have negative experiences with (1) physical and mental health, (2) quality of life, (3) relationships, and (4) careers as a result of FM. Interactions with health-care providers were deterred by (1) potential for misdiagnosis or dismissal of symptoms, (2) stigma of having a condition primarily affecting women, (3) differences in treatment of men and women with FM, and (4) need for health education resources. These findings dictate a need to improve communication between health-care providers and male FM patients.
纤维肌痛(FM)是一种严重病症,在美国约有400万人受其影响,且在男性中存在诊断不足的情况。本研究的目的是通过考察纤维肌痛在社会交往和美国医疗系统方面对男性的多重影响来了解这一现象。对田纳西州、弗吉尼亚州、马里兰州和华盛顿特区的1163名受访者进行了线上和线下的定性调查。对调查回复的主题分析表明,患有纤维肌痛的男性在以下方面有负面经历:(1)身心健康,(2)生活质量,(3)人际关系,以及(4)职业发展。与医疗服务提供者的互动受到以下因素的阻碍:(1)症状被误诊或忽视的可能性,(2)患有主要影响女性的病症所带来的耻辱感,(3)纤维肌痛男性和女性在治疗上的差异,以及(4)对健康教育资源的需求。这些发现表明需要改善医疗服务提供者与男性纤维肌痛患者之间的沟通。